Issue

Adjudication of neglect—sufficiency and specificity of findings—substantial risk of impairment

Summary

The Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeals' decision to vacate and remand the trial court's adjudication of respondent-mother's child as a neglected juvenile, holding that the trial court's findings regarding the mother's ongoing substance abuse, hallucinations, unsafe living conditions, and violation of a safety plan (two days after signing it) were sufficient to support the trial court's adjudication. Importantly, the trial court was not required to make a specific written finding regarding a substantial risk of impairment because its findings, when viewed by a reasonable person in the totality of the circumstances, contained enough factual specificity to logically support its conclusion that the child was neglected.

Summary from the North Carolina Reports digest (official subject index). Read the opinion →